SUPPORT STRUCTURE, LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND METHOD - A support structure for supporting an exchangeable object in a lithographic exposure apparatus includes a first support structure part and a second support structure part, the first support structure part being arranged to support the object, and the second support structure part being arranged to, at least in part, support the first support structure part. At least one of the first support structure part and the second support structure part has an open-box structure. The first support structure part and the second support structure part are configured to be attached to one another in such a way that the first support structure part and the second support structure together form a closed-box structure.

2009-11-26

20090290138

PULSE MOTOR, POSITIONING APPARATUS, EXPOSURE APPARATUS, AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A pulse motor includes a first element in which a plurality of convex portions are arranged cyclically, and a second element disposed to face the first element. The plurality of convex portions include first and second convex portions. The first convex portion forms a part of a first magnetic circuit including a portion passing a magnetic flux along a first direction. The second convex portion forms a part of a second magnetic circuit including a portion passing a magnetic flux along a second direction. The second element includes first and second coils to apply a magnetic flux to the first and second magnetic circuit. A time duration in which the movable element moves includes a time duration in which a timing at which a current flowing through the first coil is maximum and a timing at which a current flowing through the second coil is maximum appear alternately.

2009-11-26

20090290139

SUBSTRATE TABLE, SENSOR AND METHOD - A sensor for measuring a patterned beam of radiation in a lithographic exposure apparatus includes a receiving part for receiving the patterned beam of radiation and a processing part arranged to receive at least a part of the patterned radiation beam via the receiving part. The receiving part of the sensor is integrated in a substrate table for holding a substrate.

2009-11-26

20090290140

Deactivating device and method for lithographic plate - A device as well as method for deactivating without developing an exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The device comprises a structure for providing a deactivating agent that is capable of deactivating without developing the plate. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation, and becoming incapable of or having reduced rate of hardening after contacting with a deactivating agent. The deactivated plate is safe or has better stability at room lighting, and can be handled under room lighting before and during development. The development can be on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a liquid developer.

2009-11-26

20090290141

Matched pairs of gemstones - A system is provided for certifying two or more gemstones as being a matched pair. The system includes measuring values for at least four physical properties of a multiplicity of gemstones, identifying a first gemstone, a second gemstone, and optionally still further gemstones all being within match tolerances of the respective measured values, and certifying in a single certificate that based on the match tolerances, the gemstones constitute a matched set. Also disclosed is jewelry and a process for creating jewelry based on the certification system.

2009-11-26

20090290142

Detection of Materials Based on Raman Scattering and Laser-Induced Fluorescence By Deep UV Excitation - A system and method are provided for detecting presence of a material of interest on a surface or in a space using spectroscopic techniques. A beam of ultraviolet light is directed to the surface or space to achieve photodissociation of a material of interest in order to produce photofragment molecules that fluoresce when excited by ultraviolet light. Raman scattering of the parent target material and laser-induced fluorescence of the daughter photofragments are collected from the surface or space that may be induced by the beam of ultraviolet light. Raman spectra and fluorescence spectra are generated from the captured Raman scattering and fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra associated with the daughter photofragment molecules and the Raman spectra of the parent target material are analyzed to determine presence of the material of interest on the surface or in the space.

2009-11-26

20090290143

Evaluating a Cleaning Solution Using UV Absorbance - A process for evaluating a cleaning solution is described. The process includes: (i) subjecting a solution, including a solute and a solvent, to sonic energy to create a sonicated solution; (ii) measuring UV absorption of the sonicated solution to produce a sample UV absorbance spectra; (iii) obtaining a reference solution, which includes a solute concentration that is similar to that of solute concentration in the sonicated solution; (iv) measuring UV absorption of the reference solution to produce a reference UV absorbance spectra; (v) scaling the reference UV absorbance spectra to the sample UV absorbance spectra at a lower range of the UV spectrum; (vi) subtracting from the reference UV absorbance spectra the sample UV absorbance spectra to produce a differential UV spectra; and (vii) evaluating at or near a peak of the sample UV absorbance spectra the differential UV absorbance spectra to determine whether the sonicated solution is activated.

2009-11-26

20090290144

Apparatus and method for measuring concentrations of fuel mixtures using depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence - The apparatus for measuring concentrations of fuel mixtures using depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence is a fluorometer equipped with a sample container holder that is movable in the path of the beam from the light source. Fluorescent emissions from the sample mixture pass at 90° to the excitation light path through a slit that is narrow enough that the emission intensity is effectively produced by a thin layer of the sample and focused on a monochromator, with successive thin layers receiving nonuniform excitation radiation due to reduction of intensity along the excitation light source path with increasing depth penetration and due to reabsorption of emitted fluorescence from adjacent layers. The method has a first mode in which the emission spectrum is scanned at a fixed depth, and a second mode in which the sample is moved relative to the emission monochromator slit to vary the depth while keeping the emission wavelength fixed.

2009-11-26

20090290145

ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MONITORING EROSION OF ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK EDGE BEAD MATERIALS - A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to either emit a species capable of being optically monitored or having an electrical resistance value capable of being monitored, or both. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment.

2009-11-26

20090290146

PROBING DEVICE AND A SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING GEOMETRICAL DATA RELATED TO A CAVITY - Disclosed is a probing device for obtaining geometrical data related to a cavity, the probing device comprising at least one light source for generating electromagnetic radiation; a handheld probe body comprising a probe tip for obtaining said geometrical data related to a cavity; at least one light guide for guiding electromagnetic radiation; wherein a first end of said at least one light guide is optically coupled to said probe tip; and wherein the at least one light source is optically coupled to a second end of said at least one light guide and wherein the at least one light source is rigidly connected to said probe body.

2009-11-26

20090290147

DYNAMIC POLARIZATION BASED FIBER OPTIC SENSOR - An optical fiber sensor system includes an optical fiber. A linear polarizing component is configured to communicate with the optical fiber. The linear polarizing component includes a polarization sensing fiber to be disposed adjacent to and preferably collinear with the optical fiber. A light source communicates with the linear polarizing component for generating a light signal along the optical fiber. A reflector is disposed along the optical fiber for reflecting back the light signal along the optical fiber. An optical detector communicates with the linear polarizing component. A signal processor communicating with the optical detector and configured for determining from the reflected light signal dynamic events along the optical fiber.

TRANSSPECTRAL ILLUMINATION - Methods are disclosed of generating a visible image of an object or scene under study. At least a portion of the object or scene under study is illuminated with light outside a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. Light scattered by the object or scene under study is received. The received light is spectroscopically analyzed for volume elements of the object or scene under study. A respective qualitative feature of the object or scene under study is identified at least one of the volume elements. Visible light is propagated to the at least one of the volume elements according to the respective qualitative feature of the object or scene under study at the at least one of the volume elements.

2009-11-26

20090290150

LASER MICROSCOPE APPARATUS - To enable both observations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light and multiphoton fluorescence in a same apparatus so as to observe a specimen by various observation methods. There is provided a laser microscope apparatus comprising: two optical paths for guiding pulsed laser beams having two different frequencies whose frequency difference is approximately equal to a specific molecular vibration frequency in a specimen; a multiplexer for combining the pulsed laser beams guided through these two optical paths; and a frequency dispersion adjuster which is provided on at least one of these two optical paths, and is capable of adjustment to approximately equalize frequency dispersion quantities of the pulsed laser beams guided through the two optical paths.

2009-11-26

20090290151

Analysis of arrays by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy - The present invention relates to the detection of materials using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This invention discloses methods to draw the analyte of interest in a homogeneous matrix and subsequent analysis of these matrices, wherein the said matrices are preferably arranged in an array format. This invention is particularly applicable to analysis of Liquid samples arranged in an array format.

2009-11-26

20090290152

Apparatus and method for measuring concentrations of fuel mixtures using depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence - The apparatus for measuring concentrations of fuel mixtures using depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence is a fluorometer equipped with a sample container holder that is movable in the path of the beam from the light source. Fluorescent emissions from the sample mixture pass at 90° to the excitation light path through a slit that is narrow enough that the emission intensity is effectively produced by a thin layer of the sample and focused on a monochromator, with successive thin layers receiving nonuniform excitation radiation due to reduction of intensity along the excitation light source path with increasing depth penetration and due to reabsorption of emitted fluorescence from adjacent layers. The method has a first mode in which the emission spectrum is scanned at a fixed depth, and a second mode in which the sample is moved relative to the emission monochromator slit to vary the depth while keeping the emission wavelength fixed.

2009-11-26

20090290153

Apparatus and Method for Spectrophotometric Analysis - An apparatus for spectrophotometric analysis comprises a sample reception surface, which is arranged to receive a sample to be analysed, and a sample contacting surface, which is moveable in relation to the sample reception surface such that it may be brought to a first position, where the surfaces are sufficiently far apart to allow the sample to be placed on the sample reception surface, and a second position, where the sample contacting surface makes contact with the sample and compresses the sample. The apparatus further comprises a sample thickness controller, which is arranged to control the distance between the sample reception surface and the sample contacting surface in the second position of the sample contacting surface, such that a sample thickness between the surfaces may be shifted for obtaining at least two measurements of the sample at different optical path lengths through the sample.

Spatial light interference microscopy and fourier transform light scattering for cell and tissue characterization - Methods and apparatus for rendering quantitative phase maps across and through transparent samples. A broadband source is employed in conjunction with an objective, Fourier optics, and a programmable two-dimensional phase modulator to obtain amplitude and phase information in an image plane. Methods, referred to as Fourier transform light scattering (FTLS), measure the angular scattering spectrum of the sample. FTLS combines optical microscopy and light scattering for studying inhomogeneous and dynamic media. FTLS relies on quantifying the optical phase and amplitude associated with a coherent image field and propagating it numerically to the scattering plane. Full angular information, limited only by the microscope objective, is obtained from extremely weak scatterers, such as a single micron-sized particle. A flow cytometer may employ FTLS sorting.

2009-11-26

20090290157

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING LIGAND BINDING ASSAYS ON MICROARRAYS IN MULTIWELL PLATES - Ellipsometry systems for imaging binding events between analytes in a sample and an array of ligands in an evanescent field generated by a beam of light reflected from the plane of the ligands is adapted to a multiwell plate structure in common use. In one example, a film of prism arrays is affixed to the underside of the plate with each prism array located in registry with a well and ligand arrays being immobilized on the (planar) bottom surface of the wells. The prism array may be formed in a film and juxtaposed with the bottom surface of the plate or a prism array can be made integral with the plate bottom of a multiwell plate.

2009-11-26

20090290158

SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - The present invention is a semiconductor wafer 1 including an orientation identification mark

2009-11-26

20090290159

Optical Analyser - An optical analyser comprises a light source having a plurality of emitters (

2009-11-26

20090290160

WAVELENGTH SWEEP CONTROL - Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

PHASE-CONJUGATE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY METHODS AND APPARATUS - Phase-conjugate optical coherence tomography (PC-OCT) methods and apparatus. PC-OCT may be employed as a three-dimensional imaging technique of interest for biomedical and other imaging applications. It shares much of the source and detection convenience of conventional OCT employing classical light sources, which is in clinical use in ophthalmology and is being developed for a variety of endoscopic optical biopsy instruments. PC-OCT offers a two-fold improvement in axial resolution and immunity to group velocity dispersion, when compared with conventional OCT, that is available from quantum optical coherence tomography (Q-OCT). PC-OCT does this without Q-OCT's need for a non-classical light source and the attendant requirement of photon-coincidence counting detection. Thus, in comparison with Q-OCT, PC-OCT is capable of producing images in measurement times similar to those of conventional OCT.

2009-11-26

20090290163

Laser Ultrasonic Measurement System With Movable Beam Delivery - A laser ultrasonic measurement system includes a first and a second laser source configured to generate a first and a second laser beam, respectively. A movable mechanical link is arranged to transmit the first laser beam. The movable mechanical link is formed by a plurality of rigid sections interconnected by rotating joints. A robot is configured to support and control the movement of at least a section of the mechanical link to transmit the first laser beam to an object. An optical scanner is positioned proximate to the mechanical link. The optical scanner is configured to direct the first and second laser beams onto the object. An interferometer is optically coupled to the optical scanner. The interferometer is configured to receive reflected light from the object and in response generate an electrical signal. The first laser source is kinematically mounted in a housing assembly.

OPTICAL HIGH VOLTAGE SENSOR - An electro-optical high-voltage sensor includes a waveguiding sensing fiber of an electro-optical material. The electrical field of the voltage to be measured is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensing fiber. The sensing fiber carries two orthogonally polarized light waves, with the applied field affecting the birefringence between the waves. Using an electro-optical waveguiding fiber in this configuration allows the voltage between two widely spaced points to be accurately measured.

2009-11-26

20090290166

Adjustable Interferometer for Laser Ultrasonic Measurement - An interferometer includes a cavity including a pair of mirrors defining a cavity length. An input beam and a counter-propagating reference beam are directed into the cavity. The interferometer generates a feedback control signal and an ultrasound signal for optimal performance and measurement of a target, respectively.

2009-11-26

20090290167

Optical Coherence Tomography Laser with Integrated Clock - A frequency swept laser source for TEFD-OCT imaging includes an integrated clock subsystem on the optical bench with the laser source. The clock subsystem generates frequency clock signals as the optical signal is tuned over the scan band. Preferably the laser source further includes a cavity extender in its optical cavity between a tunable filter and gain medium to increase an optical distance between the tunable filter and the gain medium in order to control the location of laser intensity pattern noise. The laser also include a fiber stub that allows for control over the cavity length while also controlling birefringence in the cavity.

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - To facilitate page layout suitable for a bookbinding method, an image processing apparatus includes a determination unit which, when booklet printing of forming a book by folding a plurality of sheets is set, determines, based on the shape of image data to be laid out on the sheet, whether to lay out the image data on a spread of the book, a decision unit which decides, based on an object in the image data determined to be laid out on the spread of the book, whether to divide and lay out the image data, and a layout unit which divides the image data decided by the decision unit to be divided, and lays out each of the divided image data on the sheet of the spread.

2009-11-26

20090290170

PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM - A print control apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a binding position of sheets related to a binding processing for the sheets on each of which an image is printed based on print data, a setting unit configured to set a printing position of an auxiliary image of transparent color to be printed with the image that is printed based the print data, according to the binding position of the sheets input by the input unit, and a print control unit configured, based on the printing position of the auxiliary image set by the setting unit, to control printing of the auxiliary image.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCULPTED GAMUT COLOR CONVERSION - The subject application is directed to a system and method for sculpted gamut color conversion. First gamut data is received related to a first color gamut defined by a primary color space having no black component. Second gamut data is then received related to a second color gamut defined by a primary color space inclusive of a black component. At least one first color value of the first color gamut is then mapped to a second color value of a portion of the second color gamut disposed outside of the first gamut. At least one fractional black component value is then selected for each mapped color value. Non-black color data associated with each selected fractional black component is then identified. A sculpted gamut is then generated in accordance with each selected fractional black component and associated non-black color data. A color image is thereafter generated corresponding to received image data in accordance with the generated sculpted gamut.

2009-11-26

20090290173

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method and apparatus of adjusting color conversion parameters to be used by a color printer for printing documents or images, includes receiving a user input designating a color conversion parameter to be adjusted. It also includes obtaining information as to at least one other color conversion parameter that is related to the user designated color conversion parameter. It further includes adjusting the user designated color conversion parameter based on a user selection of source color-to-destination color change, and adjusting the at least one other color conversion parameter related to the user designated color conversion parameter based on the same user selection of source color-to-destination color change

2009-11-26

20090290174

METHOD FOR PRODUCING PRINTED PATCHES FOR OPTICAL AND HIGH-CONTRAST GUIDANCE - A method is described for producing printed patches to provide a plurality of color markings and high-contrast markings as aligned arrangements of fiducial points. The printed color markings facilitate optical image processing and the printed high-contrast markings facilitate high-contrast image processing. These fiducial points enable a visible area of interest to be located by a person and associated with relevant high-contrast imaging data. This method includes providing a patch; printing at least one arrangement of color markings on the patch; and printing at least one arrangement of high-contrast markings on the patch. According to further features of certain embodiments the markings are aligned, can designate the same point, or can be disjointed.

2009-11-26

20090290175

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING DOCUMENT INCLUDING OBJECT TO WHICH PREDETERMINED EFFECT IS APPLIED - Provided are a printing method and apparatus. The printing method includes receiving data regarding a document to be printed from a host, applying a predetermined effect to an object included in the document to be printed, and printing the document including the object to which the predetermined effect is applied. Thus, when a document created by a host and transmitted to a printing apparatus to be printed, cannot be corrected by the host, an effect can be applied to the document by the printing apparatus.

2009-11-26

20090290176

IMAGE GENERATING DEVICE, IMAGE GENERATING METHOD AND PRINTING DEVICE - An image generating device for generating a gradation in which the color value changes from a center of the gradation through multiple areas includes an acquisition unit that acquires parameters representing a gradation pattern including the center and shape of the gradation, a symmetry judgment unit that judges whether the gradation symmetry is satisfied (condition that the shape has line symmetry or point symmetry and the gradation center is on a line symmetry axis or at the center of point symmetry), an area determination unit that determines a partial area usable for generating a whole gradation using the gradation symmetry if the gradation symmetry is judged to be satisfied, a drawing unit that draws the gradation in the partial area based on the parameters, and a gradation development unit that develops the drawn gradation into the whole gradation using the gradation symmetry.

2009-11-26

20090290177

Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus, that is controlled to perform image output based on electrophotography, includes: an image processor for outputting input image information in the form of image data for forming images; and, an image forming portion for forming images on a sheet of paper based on the image data output from the image processor. The image processor has a function which, in accordance with folding information for folding the paper with images formed thereon, sets the images to be formed on the page of the folded paper whose folded sections oppose each other when the paper has been folded.

2009-11-26

20090290178

IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - The transfer of a duplicate electronic document between image forming devices is done with an electronic document that is formed of only resolution-independent vector data and the like, and a normal printing of the duplicate electronic document or printing of different resolution is performed by developing the vector data. In high-quality printing of the duplicate electronic document, a Fill Map included in the original document the information indicating the location of an electronic document of copy source that is embedded in a metadata specifies is obtained, and this printing is made using the Fill Map.

2009-11-26

20090290179

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes an image forming instructing section that notifies an image forming section, whether to perform a first printing processing with a plurality of colors including at least one chromatic color or a second printing processing with only black. A data obtaining section obtains pixel data from a plurality of pixels constituting an image; and an operating section inputs designated color data. A pixel data extracting section extracts pixel data of colors, except for a designated color indicated by the designated color data inputted through the operating section, from pixel data obtained by the data obtaining section. A printing type selecting section selects the first or second printing processing based on each pixel data extracted by the pixel data extracting section. The image forming instructing section notifies the printing type selected by the printing type selecting section as the type of printing processing to be performed.

IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - An image recording apparatus having a plurality of stack units used for stacking recording media, comprising: a transport path changeover unit which transports the recording media to the plurality of stack units; an inversion unit which transports the recording medium by inverting it; and a recording face uniformity control unit which changes over the order between the front face and back face of a printed face on the basis of print job information from a host apparatus, wherein the recording face uniformity control unit changes over the order of the printed faces and also gives the inversion unit and transport path changeover unit respective instructions to invert the recording medium and to change over the transport path for the recording medium, thereby stacking the recording media in the plurality of stack units with the orientation of the recorded face of the recording media uniform in each respective stack unit.

2009-11-26

20090290182

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH PREVIEW DISPLAY FUNCTION, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - On an operation panel, a preview image based on first preview image data generated by a first preview image generator is displayed (first stage), and then, a preview image based on second preview image data generated by a second preview image generator is displayed (second stage). An image reducing unit reduces input image data into an image size appropriate for the preview image to generate third preview image data. When image synthesis processing is set as user setting, an image processing unit changes, in accordance with the user setting, a display aspect of at least a portion of an area on the third preview image data corresponding to an area on the input image data in which another image data (a fixed pattern or the like) is to be synthesized.

2009-11-26

20090290183

IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE RECORDING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - In an image processing device, the memory stores conversion characteristic information corresponding to respective recording portions of an image recording device that records an image at a recording medium while moving a recording unit, which is provided with a plurality of the recording portions arrayed in a first direction, relative to the recording medium in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the conversion characteristic information expressing conversion characteristics for converting image data in units of one pixel. The first processing unit performs conversion processing along the first direction, continuously converting respective sets of pixel data aligned in the second direction, using conversion characteristic information that corresponds to the recording portions. The second processing unit performs image processing in the order of processing by the first processing unit. The output unit outputs the image data to the image recording device as aligned in the first direction.

2009-11-26

20090290184

CORRECTION INFORMATION CREATION DEVICE, IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE, CORRECTION INFORMATION CREATION PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM AND CORRECTION INFORMATION CREATION METHOD - A correction information creation device including: a recording head; a rotating body; a first detector that detects a period of a pulse signal generated in accordance with rotation of the rotating body; a first calculation section that calculates a period of a clock signal; a second detector that detects a space between corrective images that are formed synchronously with a period of the clock signal, while the rotating body is being rotated at a predetermined rotation speed, by two sets of image formation elements of the recording head; a second calculation section that calculates a distance between a measurement position of a peripheral surface of the rotating body and the axial center of the rotating body; and a memory that stores the calculated distance to serve as information for correcting the period of the clock signal.

2009-11-26

20090290185

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PREVIEW METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - Some embodiments of the present invention provide an information processing apparatus comprising a storage unit configured to store document data in a structured mark-up language; a determination unit configured to determine whether a specific function setting is on; a conversion unit configured to convert, when the determination unit determines that the specific function setting is on, the document data stored by the storage unit to a stream format; and a transmission unit configured to transmit, when the determination unit determines that the specific function setting is off, the document data in the structured mark-up language stored by the storage unit to a subsequent filter without converting the document data to the stream format.

2009-11-26

20090290186

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING SMART BANNER PAGES FOR USE IN CONVEYING INFORMATION ABOUT A RENDERED DOCUMENT TO A USER - A computer-implemented method and system for conveying information associated with a rendered job is disclosed herein. In general, data can be automatically generated, in response to a request by a user to render a job via a rendering device, wherein the data includes information indicative of the job. Thereafter, the data can be rendered for the user in a displayable format in association with the rendering of the job via the rendering device in order to convey to the user sufficient information indicative of how the job was processed and rendered via the rendering device in the event that the user encounters unexpected processing and rendering of the job.

2009-11-26

20090290187

ENHANCEMENTS TO VI RECORD JOB TICKETING AND PROCESSING - Job tickets containing scoped instructions can control the processing of a PDL file to produce a data stream that is efficiently processed by a rendering device such as a raster image processor or printer. Job tickets contain instructions for processing a PDL file. A scoped instructions controls processing of only those PDL file sections within a certain scope. Scope can be specified on a per instruction basis.

2009-11-26

20090290188

Reception method for online print ordering system - Disclosed herein is a reception method for an online print ordering system. In the reception method, the case in which a single image file includes various types of print entities is determined to be normal and then composition files are enabled to be created for the respective entities, thereby improving the efficiency of the print ordering system and customers' convenience of use.

2009-11-26

20090290189

Electronic document managing apparatus - An integrator acquires an electronic document and revised documents revised by different revisers (administrative department, accounting department) in parallel, and makes reference to the electronic document to judge whether each partial document is not disclosed in each revised document with respect to each sub-document in the electronic document. When each sub-document is not disclosed in at least one of the revised documents, whether each sub-document is to be disclosed is determined in regard to each sub-document based on a policy P that specifies disclosure/nondisclosure of each sub-document divided from the electronic document, and a revised document obtained by integrating the revised documents is created based on a determination result.

2009-11-26

20090290190

Priority Order Determination Method and Priority Order Determination Program for Print Job, and Printing System - A priority order determination method for print jobs in a printing system which can execute normal print jobs by submitting the print jobs and confidential print jobs by logging-in after submission of the confidential print job, the method includes: prioritizing a second print job relating to confidential printing over a first print job relating to normal print job, in a case when login for the second print job is requested during printing of the first print job and the second print job has been submitted before the first print job.

2009-11-26

20090290191

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus includes: a radio communication portion that transmits and receives data over radio communication to and from a storage medium in which identification information for user identification is stored; a display input portion that displays a function setting screen and receives a function setting; and a control portion that controls operation of the apparatus and forces the display input portion to perform a display changeover depending on an exposure state of the storage medium if the radio communication portion obtains the identification information from the storage medium.

2009-11-26

20090290192

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which provides an image with an extended region of a size suitable for performing block processing. In order to achieve the object, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit for inputting image data and printer setting information of the image data; and an extended region computing unit for dividing the image data into a block region and computing an extended region of the divided block region based on the printer setting information. The apparatus also includes a generating unit for generating a processed block region with the extended region added to the block region; and a processing unit for performing image processing on the processed block region produced by the generating unit.

2009-11-26

20090290193

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, ACCESS CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING ACCESS CONTROL PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus includes: a communication interface accessing Web addresses; a memory for storing predetermined addresses; a first determination unit for determining whether the image forming apparatus is in a first state that access of the image forming apparatus is limited to the predetermined addresses or a second state that the image forming apparatus is permitted to access any addresses; a second determination unit for determining whether a designated address is included in the predetermined addresses, when the image forming apparatus is in the first state; and a permission unit for giving to the communication interface permission to access the designated address, when the designated address is included in the predetermined addresses.

2009-11-26

20090290194

APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING SLIDE SHOW FUNCTION AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An apparatus for displaying a slide show function and method of controlling the same are disclosed, by which a still image file of a user-specific group can be outputted in the course of performing a slide show function and by which a plurality of still image files can be automatically sorted and stored. The present invention includes reading additional information for at least one or more still image files to which the slide show function is applied, grouping the at least one or more still image files into at least two groups using the read additional information, and if a prescribed key input is received in the course of executing the slide show function, displaying the still image files of the group different from the group to which the currently displayed still image file belongs.

2009-11-26

20090290195

IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming system including a management device, an image forming apparatus including an auxiliary storage device, and a plurality of information processing devices, which are coupled to one another via a network, the image forming system being configured as follows. The management device is designed to: acquire a box information file regarding a document box created on the auxiliary storage device from the image forming apparatus via the network; and transmit the box information file to each of the plurality of information processing devices in its original format and a state after conversion thereof into a predetermined format. The plurality of information processing devices each control a printer driver compatible with the image forming apparatus to read the received box information file.

2009-11-26

20090290196

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - The image forming apparatus includes a halftone processing section that executes halftone processing having a halftone processing period, a signal add-on section that adds the add-on signals on the input image signals subjected to the halftone processing, a position information acquisition section that acquires position information to determine a relative position of halftone dots by the halftone processing and the add-on signals in a first image area, the first image area is based on a common multiple of the halftone processing period and a minimum interval of the add-on dots, and the position information preventing the add-on signals added by the signal add-on section from crossing over the halftone dots, and an add-on control section that continues or repeats add-on control processing of the add-on signals, executed based on the acquired position information, in a second image area based on the common multiple and consecutive from the first image area.

IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD - An image processing unit generates image data of an image based on an output signal from an imaging device, corrects the image data, and outputs corrected image data. An optical filter is structured such that an upper limit of a transmitting wavelength decreases as a distance from an optical axis of the imaging optical system increases on an imaging plane of the imaging device so that a light in an infrared region is transmitted on the optical axis and cut off at a position farthest away from the optical axis on the imaging plane. The image processing unit corrects the image data based on a correction equation corresponding to the upper limit of the transmitting wavelength.

DOCUMENT READ APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The document read apparatus according to the present invention has a light source unit that includes a linear first light and second light sources, both light sources aligned parallel to the sub scanning direction (moving direction). When the light source unit is scanning a book document in a second region shifted toward a side of the first light source from a center position for emitting light to the center of the document, a light quantity of the second light source becomes larger than a light quantity of the first light source. When the light source unit is scanning the book document in a third region shifted toward a side of the second light source from the center position, the light quantity of the first light source becomes larger than the light quantity of the second light source. A sum of both light quantities is controlled to be constant.

2009-11-26

20090290201

IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - An image recording apparatus, comprising: an image recording unit which has a recording head for recording process to a recording medium; a transport mechanism which transports the recording medium; an ascent/descent mechanism which comprises an ascent/descent drive unit used for moving the transport mechanism between a recording position to a retract position; a bumping unit which is constituted by a bumping member and a bumped member and which bumps the present bumping member to the bumped member, thereby balancing the transport mechanism; a balance detection unit for detecting the balance of the transport mechanism; and an ascent/descent control unit which judges whether or not a bumping process for balancing the transport mechanism by means of the bumping unit is to be carried out on the basis of the detection result of the balance detection unit when the transport mechanism is moved from the retract position to the recording position.

2009-11-26

20090290202

HOLOGRAM RECORDING MEDIUM AND HOLOGRAM RECORDING/REPRODUCTION DEVICE - A hologram recording medium has a substrate and a hologram recording layer into or from which information is recorded or reproduced by a hologram, and a concavo-convex pattern having a reflection layer that transmits hologram recording/reproducing light and reflects light having a longer wavelength than the hologram recording/reproducing light is formed inside the hologram recording medium.

2009-11-26

20090290203

Method and Device for Computing Computer-Generated Video Holograms - The data defining an object to be holographically reconstructed is first arranged into a number of virtual section layers, each layer defining a two-dimensional object data sets, such that a video hologram data set can be calculated from some or all of these two-dimensional object data sets. The first step is to transform each two-dimensional object data set to a two-dimensional wave field distribution. This wave field distribution is calculated for a virtual observer window in a reference layer at a finite distance from the video hologram layer. Next, the calculated two-dimensional wave field distributions for the virtual observer window, for all two-dimensional object data sets of section layers, are added to define an aggregated observer window data set. Then, the aggregated observer window data set is transformed from the reference layer to the video hologram layer, to generate the video hologram data set for the computer-generated video hologram.

2009-11-26

20090290204

OPTICAL SCANNING ACTUATOR - An optical scanning actuator includes a fixed member having a light source, a movable member having an optical element that deflects light emitted from the light source and caused to vibrate by a driving unit in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical element, and a joint unit that connects the fixed member and the movable member, supports the movable member, and is bent in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of light emitted from the light source by vibration of the movable member. The optical scanning actuator scans light emitted from the light source in an vibration direction by vibration of the optical element along with the vibration of the movable member. The joint unit includes pairs of joint members connected via at least one deformation reducing member that reduces bending deformation of the joint members caused by the vibration of the movable member.

2009-11-26

20090290205

OPTICAL SCANNING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An optical deflector of the present invention includes a movable mirror and torsion bars supporting the mirror and formed integrally with the mirror. The mirror reciprocatingly vibrates to reflect a light beam to thereby deflect it. The mirror is curved in the form of an arch in a section including at least the torsion bars. The mirror deforms little during vibration even if it is thin. Small power can cause such a thin mirror to vibrate with a large amplitude.

2009-11-26

20090290206

OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE DEVICE - The present optical waveguide device, which improves the optical phase rotation efficiency with respect to activation voltage, includes: a substrate having electro-optic effects; a Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide formed on the substrate; and a signal electrode. The signal electrode is formed in an integrated manner such that an electric signal for applying the electric field travels from an upper part of either one of the two interference optical waveguides, which form the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide, to an upper part of the other one of the two, and also, a periodical polarization characteristics region, in which regions opposite to each other in polarization are alternately arranged, being provided for a part of the other one of the interference optical waveguides on the substrate.

2009-11-26

20090290207

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING OPTICAL FILTERS - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing switching optical filter. The switching optical filter provides several functionalities at the same time. For example, the filter can be used to remove photons of undesirable wavelength, such as ultraviolet or infrared, while simultaneously switching from and between one mode to another in order to accommodate changing ambient light conditions. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for forming an optical filter, the method comprising: forming a first electrode layer on a substrate; forming an ion conductor layer to at least partially cover the first electrode layer; forming an optically transparent layer over the ion conductor layer, the optically transparent layer preventing transmission of photons having a first wavelength while transmitting photons of a second wavelength; and forming a second electrode layer to at least partially cover the optically transparent layer.

2009-11-26

20090290208

PARTICLE FOR DISPLAY MEDIUM AND INFORMATION DISPLAY PANEL UTILIZING THE SAME - The present invention provides particles for display media constituting the display media used for an information display panel, in which the display media are sealed between two substrates, at least one of two substrates being transparent, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic field is applied, are made to move so as to display information, comprising: the particles having a substantially spherical shape, which are made by polymerizing raw materials including monomers, which include (acrylic or methacrylic) resin-hydrocarbon resin copolymer in the particles, in which a part of or all of the monomers are a multifunctional monomer having a plurality of polymerization reactive groups in one molecule, and which have minute irregularities on their surface evenly. By such a construction, the particles for display media can obtain irregularities firmly fixed on their surface. Poor display can be solved by using the same.

2009-11-26

20090290209

LASER MICROSCOPE - It is an object to perform high-precision observation by compensating group-velocity-delay dispersion and angular dispersion with a simple structure. The invention provides a laser microscope

2009-11-26

20090290210

DISPLAY USING LIGHT GUIDE AND REFRACTIVE INDEX CONTROL - Some embodiments provide a device including a first material associated with a controllable refractive index, a second material associated with a first refractive index, and a third material disposed between the first material and the second material, the third material being substantially transparent to a plurality of visible light wavelengths and being associated with a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index. Devices according to some embodiments may be employed as a display in a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, a minicomputer, a projection television, a front projector, etc.

FREE-SPACE OPTICAL MODULE FOR OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION - An integrated optical-amplification module includes a housing member, a first input optical terminal configured to receive an optical signal, a second input, optical terminal that can receive a pump light, and an output optical terminal that can output a combined optical signal comprising at least a portion of the optical signal and a portion of the pump light. The integrated optical-amplification module also includes an optical combiner fixedly installed relative to the housing member. The optical combiner can receive the pump light and the optical signal and an optical prism fixedly installed relative to the housing member. The optical combiner can merge the pump light and the optical signal to form the combined optical signal. The optical prism can direct at least a portion of the optical signal through free space to the optical combiner.

2009-11-26

20090290213

Faraday rotator, opto-isolator, and laser processing apparatus - A Faraday rotator, an opto-isolator, and a laser processing apparatus are provided in which change in polarization rotation angle caused by a temperature increase in the Faraday rotator can be prevented, even when an increase in laser beam output or change in ambient temperature occurs.

2009-11-26

20090290214

DICHROIC DYE FOR POLARIZATION FILM, COMPOSITION COMPRISING THE SAME FOR POLARIZATION FILM, METHOD FOR FORMING POLARIZATION PLATE AND POLARIZATION PLATE PREPARED THEREBY - Disclosed are a new dichroic dye having liquid crystal properties and dichroic properties and capable of being used for forming a polarization film with excellent heat resistance, durability, and polarizing properties, a composition including the same for a polarization film, a method for forming a polarization plate with excellent durability using the composition, and a polarization plate prepared thereby. The new dichroic dye has a structure of R1-L1-(M,L,D) (where, D is a dichroic structure, M is a structure with liquid crystal properties, R1 is a reactive end functional group, and L and L1 are linking structures). The composition for a polarization film includes the dichroic dye. In the method for forming the polarization plate, the composition for a polarization film is applied to a substrate and cured to prepare the polarization plate. The polarization plate has excellent dichroic ratio, heat resistance, durability, and polarizing properties.

2009-11-26

20090290215

Iodine-Type Polarizer, Polarizing Place and Method for Producing Thereof - There is provided a method for producing a polarizer having improved cross transmittance. The method for producing a polarizer includes: dyeing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based film with molecular iodine by immersing the PVA-based film in an aqueous iodine solution (a dyeing step); absorbing the molecular iodine into the PVA-based film using an aqueous boric acid solution (a cross-linking step); arranging the molecular iodine in the certain direction by stretching the PVA-based film in a certain direction (an stretching step); and drying, in an oven, the PVA-based film in which the molecular iodine is oriented; wherein a phosphate compound is added to the iodine aqueous solution (the dyeing step) or the aqueous boric acid solution(the stretching step) so that a weight ratio of the boric acid:the phosphate compound is in a range of 1:0.1 to 1:10.

2009-11-26

20090290216

ZOOM LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A zoom lens includes a first, third and fourth lens group of positive refracting power, a second lens group of negative refracting power, wherein, during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, at least the first lens group moves, wherein the third lens group includes, a first lens sub-group of positive refracting power and a second lens sub-group of negative refracting power, wherein the second lens sub-group includes a single negative lens, wherein the first lens sub-group of the third lens group is moved to keep a perpendicular component relative to an optical axis to correct image blur to be produced when the zoom lens vibrates, and wherein, when a focal length of the first lens group is denoted by f1 and the focal length of the whole system at the wide-angle end is denoted by fw, a conditional expression 10.0

2009-11-26

20090290217

Three-Dimensional Diffractive Structure, Method For Making, and Applications Thereof - Three-dimensional grating device includes two (crossed) diffraction gratings, exhibits diffraction efficiency substantially independent of the incident polarization inside an optical communication spectral window from 1.5-1.6 μm. The gratings are characterized by different periods in two directions, chosen to support only one dispersive diffraction order in addition to the zero- (specular) order. Gratings may be orthogonal. Exemplary grating profiles include but are not limited to sinusoidal and truncated pyramidal (trapezoidal) profiles. A method for diffracting polarization independent light with 90% or higher efficiency. Applications include various wavelength control devices particularly useful in telecommunications.

REFLECTION REDUCING FILM, OPTICAL MEMBER AND OPTICAL SYSTEM - A reflection reducing film is provided on a surface of an optical substrate, and is sequentially provided with a buffer layer and a reflection reducing layer. The reflection reducing layer includes first to eighth layers sequentially laminated from the side of the buffer layer. The first and sixth layers are made of a low-refractive index material having a refractive index in the range of 1.35 to 1.50 at the d-line, the third, fifth and seventh layers are made of an intermediate-refractive index material having a refractive index in the range of 1.55 to 1.85 at the d-line, and the second, fourth and eighth layers are made of a high-refractive index material having a refractive index in the range of 1.70 to 2.50 at the d-line.

2009-11-26

20090290220

ANTI-GLARE FILM, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING, THE SAME, AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME - An anti-glare film has a plurality of diffuser elements, and has specified optical properties. The ratio of I(α+1)/I(α) is more than 0.1 to 0.6, where I(α) is an intensity of a light reflected toward an arbitrary angle α of 10° or less from a specular reflection direction of an incident light upon the surface at an angle of 5° to 30° from the surface normal, and I(α+1) is an intensity of a reflected light deviated from the arbitrary angle α by 1° in a wide-angle direction. The gain of a light reflected in the direction at 20° or more from the specular reflection direction of the incident light is 0.02 or less, in which the gain is obtained by normalizing a reflected light intensity using a specular reflection intensity of a standard diffuse plate as 1. The diffuser elements have an average space therebetween of 50 to 300 micrometers.

2009-11-26

20090290221

Multilayer Element Comprising Microlenses - Described is a multilayer body for representing microimages provided with gray value gradations or color gradations. The multilayer body has a transparent first layer in which a plurality of microlenses are shaped, and a second layer (

2009-11-26

20090290222

IMAGE OBSERVATION APPARATUS AND IMAGE OBSERVATION SYSTEM - The image observation apparatus includes a first image-forming element and a second image-forming element each of which forms an original image, and an optical system configured to introduce light fluxes from the first and second image-forming elements to an exit pupil position of the optical system where an eye of an observer is placed. The optical system includes an optical surface as a single surface that reflects the light flux from the first image-forming element and transmits the light flux from the second image-forming element. The first image-forming element and the second image-forming element respectively form a first original image and a second original image that correspond to different viewing fields from the exit pupil position. The apparatus combines plural original images to enable observation of one combined image and that can suppress generation of light scattering.

2009-11-26

20090290223

OPTICAL APPARATUS AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - An optical apparatus includes a collimation optical member for collimating and outputting input light, a condensing optical member for condensing light from the collimation optical member and a light blocking mask member provided at a place on an optical path of the input light for light blocking part of the input light, and enhances the degree of freedom in design of an optical system.

2009-11-26

20090290224

Viewing optical system and imaging apparatus using the same - The invention provides a viewing optical system positioned between a viewing plane as a virtual plane and an eye point. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from the viewing plane side, a first lens group including a positive lens or a negative lens, a second lens group including a cemented lens in which at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens are cemented together, and a third lens group including a positive lens. Of lenses forming the first, second, and third lens groups, at least one lens surface is an aspheric surface.

2009-11-26

20090290225

Viewing optical system and imaging apparatus using the same - The invention provides a viewing optical system positioned between a viewing plane as a virtual plane and an eye point. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from the viewing plane side, a cemented lens and a positive lens component, and satisfies the following condition (1).

Zoom lens and image pickup device - A zoom lens includes a first lens group having negative refractive power and a second lens group having positive refractive power, each including at least one plastic aspherical lens. The zoom lens satisfies the following Conditional Expressions (1) and (2),

2009-11-26

20090290228

Zoom Lens - A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens group with a positive refractive power; a second lens group with a negative refractive power; a third lens group with a positive refractive power; a fourth lens group with a negative refractive power; and a fifth lens group with a positive refractive power. A power of the zoom lens is varied by changing intervals between neighboring lens groups in the first through fifth lens groups. The second lens group includes a cemented lens consisting of one positive lens and one negative lens, and the third lens group includes a cemented lens consisting of two positive lenses and one negative lens.

2009-11-26

20090290229

ZOOM LENS SYSTEM AND CAMERA INCLUDING THE SAME - A zoom lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side, four lens units having positive, negative, negative and positive refractive powers. A first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a front subunit having a negative refractive power; a middle subunit that has a positive refractive power and moves during focusing; and a rear subunit having a positive refractive power. The zoom lens system further includes a variable apex angle prism disposed on the image side of the front subunit. An average Abbe number of materials of a negative lens element and a positive lens element included in the front subunit is set appropriately so as to suppress occurrence of decentering aberration accompanying a variation of a prism apex angle.

2009-11-26

20090290230

ZOOM LENS SYSTEM AND CAMERA INCLUDING THE SAME - A zoom lens system includes four lens units each having positive, negative, negative and positive refractive powers in the stated order from an object side to an image side. A first lens unit includes a variable apex angle prism on the image side of at least one lens element. In this zoom lens system, a focal length of the first lens unit and imaging magnifications of a second lens unit and a fourth lens unit are set appropriately so as to suppress occurrence of decentering aberration accompanying a variation of a prism apex angle.

2009-11-26

20090290231

Zoom lens and image pickup appartus - A zoom lens includes first to third negative, positive, positive lens groups. The second lens group includes first to fourth positive, negative, negative, positive lenses. The third and fourth lenses of the second lens group are bonded to each other to serve as a cemented lens. The zoom lens is configured to satisfy Conditional Expressions (1) and (2) as follows:

2009-11-26

20090290232

ZOOM LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first to fifth lens units are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. All of the lens units are moved during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end such that the distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit is increased and the distance between the third lens unit and the fifth lens unit is increased. The refractive power of the fourth lens unit and the refractive power of the fifth lens unit are adequately set with respect to the zoom ratio.

2009-11-26

20090290233

LENS ACTUATOR - A lens actuator includes a lens barrel for accommodating the lens, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket for mounting the magnets thereon and accommodating the lens barrel therein, and a resilient plate connected between the bracket and the lens barrel to hold the lens barrel on the bracket. A cutout is defined in the edge of the through hole of the plate shaped body corresponding to the respective fixing portions. The lens barrel includes a plurality of fasteners. Each of the fastener includes a shaft extending through the cutouts and protruded out from the lens barrel and a head extending radially outwardly of the shaft at the distal end thereof. The resilient plate and the lens barrel are gripped together by engagement of the cutouts with the respective fasteners.

2009-11-26

20090290234

Image Pickup Lens, Image Pickup Unit, and Mobile Terminal - An image pickup lens includes, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens in a meniscus shape having a positive refractive power and including a convex surface facing the object side; a second lens having a negative refractive power and including a concave surface facing an image side of the image pickup lens; a third lens in a meniscus shape having a positive refractive power and including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fourth lens having a negative refractive power and including a concave surface facing the image side, where at least one surface of the fourth lens is in an aspheric shape. The image pickup lens satisfies a predetermined condition relating to a composite focal length of the first lens and the second lens, and a focal length of a total system of the image pickup lens.

2009-11-26

20090290235

Imaging lens - An imaging lens of which optical performance does not deteriorate even in a high temperature environment, various aberrations are well corrected, optical length is short, and back focus is sufficiently secured. This imaging lens comprises a first diaphragm S

2009-11-26

20090290236

ENDOSCOPE OBJECTIVE LENS WITH LARGE ENTRANCE PUPIL DIAMETER AND HIGH NUMERICAL APERTURE - An endoscope objective lens for collecting combined bright field (white light) and fluorescence images includes a negative lens group, a stop, and a positive lens group. The lens has a combination of large entrance pupil diameter (≧0.4 mm) for efficiently collecting weak fluorescence light, large ratio between the entrance pupil diameter and the maximum outside diameter (D